The CBA, the Chinese Basketball Association, was established in June 1956. It withdrew from the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), but was reinstated in 1974.

It is a non-governmental organization in charge of basketball at national level. The China Basketball Administration Center, a sub-division of the CBA, takes responsibility for promoting the sport in China.

After the introduction of some reforms in 1994, the first CBA league was launched the following year, with 12 teams participating.

By 2000, there were 43 men's and 42 women's teams registered with them, and the total number of players had reached 998. The advent of the CBA league represented a giant step forward in the development of professional basketball in China. In 1989, the first club, sponsored by Anshan Steel Company, was founded in Shenyang. By 2000, the number of professional clubs registered under the CBA had reached 29.